The conference was titled “The Human Dimension Seminar on the Rule of Law Framework for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings” and was organized by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR). The conference was a platform for the exchange of views among different stakeholders on key aspects of the rule of law framework for combating trafficking in human beings.

Back row: Sonia Helmy-Dentzel, Senior Multilateral Affairs Officer in the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons; Katerina Kane, Chief of the Exploitation Crimes Unit for ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Office of International Affairs; Kevin Koliner, Assistant United States Attorney for the District of South Dakota; Front row: Allison Hollabaugh, Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki Commission); Suzanne Tomatore, Director, Immigrant Women and Children Project, City Bar Justice Center

OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control and the promotion of human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections. It has 550 headquarters staff and about 2,300 field staff. Members are from 56 States from Europe, Central Asia and North America. It offers a forum for political negotiations and decision-making in the fields of conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, democratization, and human rights issues including human trafficking.

The Human Dimension Seminar was an opportunity to discuss the implementation of relevant OSCE commitments on the protection and assistance to trafficked persons and prevention of trafficking in human beings. The OSCE participating States and other stakeholders shared best practices and challenges in the area of anti-trafficking, as well as strategies for the better enforcement and implementation of OSCE commitments.

Ms. Tomatore presented on the topics of the victim in the criminal justice process and the primacy of human rights in the law.